Agencies partnering to review Nova Scotia property tax system

SYDNEY — The Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities, the Association of Municipal Administrators and Property Valuation Services Corp. are co-sponsoring a study that will look at the property tax system in Nova Scotia.

“Property taxation is the primary revenue source for the municipalities therefore it is critical we follow good tax policy and this study will explore that,” UNSM president David Corkum said in a news release.

The study will focus on assessing the effectiveness of the property tax system and will identify opportunities for improvement. The study is being conducted by two experts in the area of municipal tax policy, Enid Slack and Harry Kitchen.

“A well0-rounded study can only be accomplished with the right expertise and a successful consultation process,” Corkum said in a news release.

The study involves two rounds of consultations with stakeholder groups that include: businesses, taxpayer associations, Provincial departments, research and policy groups, and municipalities.

“The UNSM is pleased to have the support of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations throughout this process,” Corkum said.

The study is scheduled to be completed this spring and a report will be released upon completion.

The UNSM is a non-profit organization that has represented the provincial interests of municipal governments across Nova Scotia since 1906. Total membership is 412 elected officials representing 54 municipalities.

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Robert

February 19, 2014 - 00:09

The Property Valuation Services Corporation is a $17 million corporate welfare program and no one has ever given a sensible reason for its existence. PVSC CEO Kathy Gillis makes over $155,000 per year plus expenses.($3000 per week) Many other staff members are making over $100,000 as well (from FOIPOP request) These people should never be consulted as they are part of the problem. Why not consult private citizens for a change and avoid the very bureaucrats who created this mess in the first place.
The market tells us free of charge the value of our properties. It is simply all about data collection. No other asset class uses an outside agency to establish market value. (stocks, bonds, trains, boats, cars, planes, etc. all get their value free of charge from the marketplace. (buyers and sellers) Penalizing property owners (raising taxes) for making improvements to their homes is the dumbest idea ever. It discourages development and stunts economic growth. Think of all the renovations that would take place if the assessment office wasn't looking over your shoulder. (money spent on labour, materials and yes the additional HST collected) The only way to truly save Nova Scotia is to cut the fat. The population can no longer afford to pay for bloated governments. If our family members are forced to work out West then why not have the excess in government join them. Think Frank McKenna, he saved New Brunswick by simply cutting the fat.

How I'm paying twice the taxes that my neighbours are paying is crazy. All because I couldn't by a house when I was 12. Let people pay the taxes based on their real property value like everywhere else in North America. If you want to live on the Lake Shore in Toronto you are going to pay. We should be no different - we should benefit as a community from the beautiful 500,000 to 1 million dollar properties on the water - if the current owner can't pay I'm sure someone will. And just maybe we will be able to afford salt next winter.

well, my opinion is that to do it right, everyone pays the same, regardless of home value- fee for service- we all pay the same for a liter of gas, kwh of electricity, right? So why have taxes any different? And to those who chose to live in rural areas, they must pay more as they want to come into town to shop, visit the bank, etc etc etc- so they need to pay for the upkeep of infrastructure- a good start would be getting rid of municipal politics all together and enhancing provincial, and then we all pay area tax rates based on services with a factor for property valuation by area, not because one person chose to put more of their money into a house, as compared to travel, etc- fee for service- the fair way - we ALL pay the same , no caps-

I agree with young Cape Bretoner. Everyone should pay fairly for services they receive, regardless of the value of one's home. The current system places an unfair burden on new homeowners and those who choose to maintain or upgrade their properties (at their own expense).

I was planning to move to CB this summer but when I saw the property taxes on the house I was going to buy I decided otherwise. I can get a similiar house with half the taxes in Truro and better services.

This hopefully will take a look at rural tax assessments,. I live in a rural area onour own well and septic. We do not have road maintence snow removal or grading, there are nine homes on the road. The municipality gets a total of $60,000.00 in taxes from us all.and we get nothing in return. Guess its like everything else "WHO YOU KNOW"THE MUNICIPALITY SAYS THEY ARE NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF ROADS?IF we build it up to their standards they woulod consider looking after it but in the meantime they plow roads that no one lives on,!!!!!!!!!! Who`s paying for that we are,.

Our current tax system is discriminatory against young people and new comers to Nova Scotia. How some people are paying two to three times the taxes of their neighbours is crazy. The current system benefits the rich way more the average person who thinks it’s great to under the cap. My parents place is worth 70,000 and they are capped at 60,000. There are some properties in Cape Breton worth 400,000 that are capped at 150,000. Remove the cap and let people pay what their homes are worth or move. This will end up in lower taxes for most of us and stop the discrimination against young people and new comers.

You don't tell the truth sir, the cap did not create discrepancies like you cite.

Assessments are Sinful

February 18, 2014 - 13:23

My assessment has increased 57% since 2007 and I have done nothing to my home. Yes, and my assessment is "capped".Tax grab plain and simple. I was at the vetern's committee yesterday and the chair of the Committee's , Ms Eiking, leaves with no hope that anything will be done on any issue in the province . She and the rest of the Liberals, my government are way over their heads.

When evaluating property tax, 2 areas that should be looked at, are people who have there own water & sewer as well as the distance away from a fire department. Living in a rural area as I do with no water, no sewer, no public transit or school buses & the nearest fire department 30kms away, should not be grouped in the same class as one living in Baddeck with all these services.

I would like this study to answer the question of why property taxes are based on the price of our home? Taxes should be based solely on the services you receive from the municipality. Add up the costs and divide them amongst the citizens. You should pay the same tax as your next door neighbour, bottom line. Or maybe this makes too much sense. This study should also review property taxes across the country and other countries for comparison purposes.

I purchased a 2 bedroom (900) home in Sydney River 3 years ago. I have a small deck out back, no garage, no shed. At the time of purchase, the cap came off the property and I watched my property taxes soar each year!
My neighbour across the street, whose property is capped, lives in a 4 level split with a swimming pool out back with a surround deck., garage and shed.
Please explain to me why his taxes are 1/2 of what I pay in taxes each year. Is this fair property tax evaluation. I could be paying higher taxes for years. The cap should never have come off. If one is capped, everyone should be capped. Why should I have to pay more in taxes than my next door neighbour??

Well, from a residents' point of view, we are extremely over-taxed. The property taxes people of the CBRM pay are extremely high, and out of touch with reality! This study better side with residents, because if there are anymore increases, it is going to cause more and more people to leave the area.